Under-fire West Park plunge into relegation mire

Apr 9 2008 by Ron Roby, Liverpool Daily Post

WEST PARK squandered a great chance of edging themselves above the bottom three in the National Three North table when they took on Bradford & Bingley in a replay at Red Rocks.

Despite scoring four tries in their total of 28 points, sufficient to win most games, they performed so badly at times wasting possession and tackling so poorly that their Yorkshire hosts were able to run in no less than nine tries in an extraordinary game.

It was no wonder that caretaker coach Chris Chudleigh was left looking bewildered on the touchline knowing that Park will be doomed for the drop to North One if they cannot salvage a couple of wins in their remaining games.

As the table stands at the moment, Park are next to the bottom with Beverley certain to be relegated and Macclesfield and Morley, just one and two points respectively, above them.

Next weekend’s trip to the Midlands to take on Leicester Lions is a tough call with their opposition basking in fourth place in the table.

If the Merseysiders are to succeed they must show much more purpose than they did last weekend and remind themselves that they won over the Lions at home 19-16 before Christmas.

Unfortunately since then the Merseysiders have seen the wheels come off having won only two games and having to readjust to a new backroom staff.

Flanker Mark Williams limped off the field against Bradford and Rob Hitchmough seemed to be carrying a knock that might rule him out of this weekend’s vital clash.

After Saturday, Park have just Preston Grasshoppers to contend with at home and much will depend on Morley and Macclesfield’s performances at Caldy and Bradford respectively.